Power of We – Doing Powerful Things in Lansing

My name is John Bolan and I am a member of AmeriCorps*State program with the Power of We Consortium at the North West Initiative-Food System Project in Lansing. At the Food Systems Project I serve as the volunteer and internship coordinator. The Power of We Consortium is a diverse group of partners. We aim to reduce chronic disease for Lansing-area residents by creating, maintaining, and expanding community gardens, sustainable food systems, and access to healthy food; and by creating, maintaining and expanding trails, greenways, and non-motorized transportation systems.

We have 15 AmeriCorps*State members currently serving at the following organizations:

Allen Neighborhood Center
East Lansing Parks
Greater Lansing Food bank
Ingham County Land Bank
Ingham Family Center
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council
Mid-Michigan Food Bank
Northwest Initiative
South Lansing Community Development Association
The Garden Project

In the 2009-2010 program year our goal was to create or expand five community gardens. We created more than 20 new gardens and helped to improve countless other. Through 19 of our Ingham County Land Bank affiliated gardens we produced thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the community. We provided resources to people who wished to start gardens on their on land and Land Bank property to people who needed land. We also provided expertise to new gardeners and guidance to community centers, schools, faith based organizations, and neighborhood groups who wished to create community gardens.

Gardening has encouraged neighborhoods to take pride in their land and increased fresh food access in low-income areas. It has enabled families to save money as well as helped us bring to light the connection between eating fruits and vegetables and reducing chronic disease.

Our garden at Urbandale sells produce at reduced rates, which brings healthy, fresh, affordable food within walking distance of the many residents who had been formally in food deserts. Our gardens have been so successful that, even after all local residents and volunteers had taken all they could eat of this fall’s harvest, over 1,000 pounds of produce was left over. Our members distributed this food to nonprofit organizations like Letts Community Center.

To increase access to healthy foods, our members at the Mid-Michigan Food Bank coordinates the Weekend Survival Kit program. A Weekend Survival Kit is a backpack full of three days of healthy, kid-friendly food that local elementary school students on free/reduced lunch plans can take home. Because of the program, students that rely on school meals are not going hungry when school is not in session.

We promote the use of trails, greenways, and non-motorized transportation by hosting community events and improving local trails and parks. More than 1,700 employees participated in Mid-MEAC’s SmartCommute challenge to commute by bike or other options that reduce our city’s automobile use. Community feedback indicates that residents are excited about reducing our city’s reliance on automobiles. The Walkability Audit will help to increase non-motorized transportation. Members at East Lansing Parks and Ingham County Parks removed invasive species from our parks and improved trails so that residents have more attractive, user-friendly greenspace. They have boosted residents’ involvement with local parks and helped the native habitat to thrive.

Lastly, we aimed to educate 300 community members about the link between exercise and healthy food and the reduction of chronic disease. By the end of the program year, we had far surpassed our goal by engaging 2,300 Lansing area residents. Our AmeriCorps members at NorthWest Initiative and SLCDA organized and taught nutrition, exercise and gardening classes to local elementary students. Our program helped the Ingham Family Center to start a large garden, chicken coop, and hoop house to grow food in the winter. Students now grow, learn about, and eat local organic food.